People stop me regularly to ask what Nelson’s breed is. Apparently, “Cute” doesn’t cut it. This past weekend I attended an dog agility event with my friend Sheila. There were dogs galore, including this beauty, Pia:

If I were going to have another dog, she would be it. Her owner was so sweet. We stood outside talking about dogs for a few minutes and she firmly decided Nelson must be a wire fox terrier, like Pia. Let me be clear, I couldn’t care less what Nelson’s breed is. He’s a pound pup who I adore. He could have horns and be purple and he’d still be perfect. That said, wandering a Boulder hardware store this weekend, I ran across the following Welsh terrier calendar:

This is Nelson, kinda. In truth, I think he’s likely Welsh/airdale/wire fox terrier mix — a Euro mutt, just like me. Regardless, I miss the little terrorist and can’t wait to be home with him soon.

I’ve been trying to talk myself into doing some larger patchwork projects. Not quite a quilt, but I have several larger projects in mind I’ve been plotting. Also, I have a growing pile of scrappy pieces of cute fabric that need a good home.

Sometimes I go long enough without doing something, I’m afraid I’ve forgotten how. Also, I regularly talk myself into projects that are far too difficult. So, as a test run this weekend, I whipped up these patchwork pouches:

How many of you have heard me say, “I just want a couple chickens?” Most, I’d guess. For years, the story went a bit like this:

I want a garden, dog and a couple chickens. Also? I’d like to live closer to my brother.

Well. Chickens are all that remain. After this weekend, I’m quite a bit closer. I’ll be living in a new home in Golden in a few months. The owner, a good friend of mine, is fully supportive of my gardening and small animal husbandry dreams. (She actually suggested a goat, which doesn’t sound that crazy all of a sudden.) The two of us, her sister, and her her far-too-kind-and-extremely-hard-working-boyfriend, transformed her backyard this weekend into my future mini farm.

This included filling a dumpster full of debris from her backyard. A few photos of the progress:

Your suggestion at “brights” for our March fashion blog had my heart rate up. I am not a “brights” or a “tights” kinda gal. Those Forever Underage stores? Make me want to run toward Chicos with all my credit cards out at once. (You, however, look freaking adorable in that yellow jacket. Love it. And your haircut!)

To put it mildly: I am not up with the trends. I very happily could wear shades of blue and bright whites for the rest of my life. Pearls! Kara, I love pearls.

Maybe a little purple, gray, or garnet if I wanted to get crazy. This, for example, is my typical everyday uniform:

Comfy dark jeans, Patagonia top, dangly earrings. Done.

This, however, is what I wore out for St. Patrick’s on Saturday — which took just about all the fashion courage I have:

Bright green! Short! Fun! (And apparently a little see thru. Lord.)

I know. It’s still pretty basic. But it is a step toward the more adventurous. These after all are still some of my favorite shoes: